Good morning, today I will be writing to you about the Trinity. To start, I would like to give you a brief and compact explanation of what the Trinity is; the Trinity is the doctrine that there is one God who exists in three distinct but equal persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Trinitarianism is one of the most difficult yet fundamental things to understand about Christianity. When it comes to understanding/comprehending the Trinity, I love the way Sam Shamoun¹ puts it — “Logic and Rationality can only take you so far, Revelation has to take you the rest of the way.” This essentially means that we can look at the world and come to a logical and rational understanding that there is a creator. However, when it comes to the creator we can only know what is revealed to us by the creator. Luckily the creator (God) has revealed Himself to us, not only through His creation but in a deeper way through the Bible. Some may ask why this doctrine is so important that I would call it fundamental when it is so hard to understand and that’s because, without the doctrine of the Trinity, you don’t have Christianity. That said in this article I would like to build a case for Trinitarianism, providing you with some passages and concepts from the Bible as well as Church History.
Table of Contents
Biblical Evidence for the Trinity
Before delving into the biblical basis for the Trinity, it is essential to clarify a few foundational points. One of the most crucial aspects of the Trinity is that it is a monotheistic doctrine. This means that despite the belief in three distinct Persons within the Godhead, we maintain that there is only one God. This point is often misunderstood by those who are not familiar with the intricacies of the doctrine and can lead to confusion, particularly when comparing Christianity and Islam.
For instance, the Quran refers to a false view of the Trinity in verse 5:116, which states, “And behold! Allah will say: ‘O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah’?” The verse suggests that Muslims believe Christians worship more than one God, which is not the case. In fact, the Bible reinforces the idea of monotheism repeatedly.
For example, in Mark 12:29, Jesus says, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Here, Jesus is referencing the Shama, a prayer that is central to Judaism and emphasizes the oneness of God. Similarly, in James 2:19, the apostle James states, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” This verse underscores the universality of the belief in one God, even among those who reject Him.
Finally, in 1 Corinthians 8:4, the apostle Paul addresses a situation where some Christians were hesitant to eat food that had been offered to idols. Paul reminds them that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” This passage reaffirms the idea of monotheism and establishes it as a core tenet of the Christian faith.
The Father
The question of who the Father is and how He fits into the Godhead is a fundamental one in Christian theology. While there are many ways to approach this topic, one of the most straightforward is to look to Jesus’ own words. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus refers to the Father as a distinct Person within the Godhead. This simple fact tells us several important things about the Father’s identity.
First, it shows us that the Father and Jesus are not the same Person. Jesus speaks of the Father as someone other than Himself, indicating that they are two distinct entities within the Godhead. Second, Jesus’ references to the Father make it clear that the Father did not become Jesus. While Jesus is fully God, He is also fully human, and the Father remains a distinct and separate entity. And finally, Jesus’ references to the Father affirm that the Father is God, just as Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God.
Another way to go about understanding who the Father is is to that the Father sent the Son. (John 17:3)
The Son
The question of who the Son is and how He relates to the Godhead is a central one in Christian theology. While the answer is multifaceted, a simple way of understanding the Son is to see Him as our Savior, sent by the Father to give us eternal life. This concept is beautifully summarized in John 3:16-17, which states that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Another key passage that sheds light on the Son’s identity is John 1, which speaks of the “Word” becoming flesh and dwelling among us. This Word is commonly understood to refer to Jesus, as confirmed in John 1:14. Taken together, these two passages paint a picture of the Son’s place within the Godhead.
First, they underscore that the Father and the Son are distinct entities within the Godhead. The Son is not merely an aspect of the Father or a temporary manifestation of God’s power, but a unique Person in His own right. Second, they affirm that the Son is God, equal in essence and power to the Father and the Holy Spirit. This is made clear in John 1:1, which states that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Finally, these passages tell us that the Son is eternal and uncreated, just as the Father and the Holy Spirit are.
The Holy Spirt
Understanding the identity of the Holy Spirit is a key element in Christian theology, and there are various approaches to this question. However, the most straightforward way to explain who the Holy Spirit is that He was sent by both the Father and the Son as evidenced in John 15:26. Additionally, the Holy Spirit is revealed as God in Acts 5:3-4, where Peter confronts Ananias and Sapphira about their deceitful actions before the Holy Spirit. Moreover, Job 33:4 highlights the Holy Spirit as the giver of life, which provides us with a glimpse into His essential role in the Godhead.
Church History
Trinitarianism, the concept of three distinct persons in one Godhead, has been a topic of debate and discussion for centuries. While it may be difficult for us to fully comprehend this doctrine, it remains an essential belief in Christianity. As followers of Christ, it is important to have a basic understanding of the Trinity and its significance in our faith. Thankfully, the Council of Nicea, which took place over a thousand years ago, sought to clarify this doctrine and created the Nicene Creed as a concise and accurate representation of the Trinity. As such, the Nicene Creed has become a crucial component of Christian worship and serves as a helpful tool in understanding this complex concept.
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Trinitarianism is a complex and abstract concept, which can be difficult to grasp, and even impossible to fully understand. However, as a fundamental tenet of Christianity, it is important to have at least some comprehension of it. The concept of the Trinity states that there is one God in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is widely accepted among all branches of Christianity, with the exception of a few, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Latter-Day Saints. Thankfully, there are many resources available for those seeking to deepen their understanding of the Trinity, including theologians, pastors, and other experts in the field.
